10:00 JOHN F. KENNEDY 6TH FLOOR MUSEUM-photo- Where were you on November 22, 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated? The Nation remembers the moment when, at 12:40 PM CST, newscaster Walter Cronkite broadcast the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas. Everyone sat glued to the TV and radio to learn the fate of our President. Classrooms across America sat in silence waiting for the school superintendent to announce over the PA system that our President was dead. The Sixth Floor Museum is the crime scene. Visitors will see historic images, news footage, artifacts including the assassination rifle, and stand mere feet from where Lee Harvey Oswald sat in his “snipers perch”. This is truly one of the most moving exhibits of all time.

12 NOON. LUNCH AND SHOPPING @ NORTHPARK MALL.

2:00 PM. GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM-photo- The permanent exhibit explores important issues and events of the Administration of President George W. Bush as framed by four themes: freedom, opportunity, compassion, and responsibility. Experience a compelling exhibit of the events of 911 including a remnant of one of the fallen towers, the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, and relive Desert Storm. Enjoy an authentic replica of the Oval Office and have your picture taken sitting in President Bush’s actual office chair. Be amazed at President & Mrs. Bush’s gifts from foreign Heads of State from around the World.

4:30 PM. RECEPTION @ NCHA PRESIDENT JO ELLARD’S HOME-photo- “I am thrilled that you are coming to my home after a day of touring the amazing museums of US Presidents, John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush. I welcome you and look forward to meeting each of you as you take time out of your NCHA Futurity schedule. -Jo.”

7:30 PM HIGHLAND PARK CHRISTMAS LIGHT TOUR—photo—On the return trip to Fort Worth, you will be treated to a tour of the Highland Park Christmas Lights. In one of the oldest most elite neighborhoods of Dallas, the residents produce a Christmas Light extravaganza unlike any you have seen before.

On Monday, Nov. 23., 90 more horses took their shot at advancing to the second go of the Open competition at the 2015 NCHA Futurity.

It wasn’t until the sixth set that a day leader surfaced and that was when Beau Galyean cut to a 216.5 aboard Metallic Rebel. Metallic Rebel, owned by Thomas Guinn, was matched exquisitely with Galyean who boasts a rich history with the horse’s bloodlines. Galyean won the 2008 NCHA Futurity Open Championship aboard Metallic Rebel’s sire, Metallic Cat. The two went on to earn the 2009 NCHA Horse of the Year honors and nearly $575,000 together before Metallic Cat began showcasing his superior qualities as a sire. Today, the 2005 roan stallion has sired NCHA money earners of more than $5 million.

Galyean also showed Metallic Rebel’s dam, Sweet Abra, to more than $120,000 before she went on to shine as a producer as well. To date, Sweet Abra, by Abrakadabracre, has produced earners of more than $300,000. She is also the dam of Sweet Metallic, a full sister to Metallic Rebel that Galyean has shown to more than $150,000 to date. Metallic Cat and Sweet Abra are both part of the Fults Ranch’s breeding program which produced Metallic Rebel. He was purchased by Guinn in August of this year.

Beau Galyean has won nearly $2.4 million and is a member of the NCHA Non-Pro and Riders Hall of Fame.

Tuesday will conclude the first go-round of Open competition at the the 2015 NCHA World Championship Futurity and Wednesday will kick of the second go as those who advanced take another shot at furthering their hopes of an Open Championship.

Following the conclusion of the Open second go of the NCHA Futurity on Friday, the NCHA Mercuria World Finals will begin in the Watt Arena as the Association’s toughest weekend competitors of the Open and Non-Pro divisions battle it out for their place in the year-end standings. These high-energy performances draw huge crowds as many all-time leading money-earning horses and riders go head-to-head.

Day four of the 2015 NCHA Futurity continued the six-day first-go round of the Open competition in Will Rogers Coliseum. Six sets of cattle challenged the nearly 90 competitors that filled the day’s roster leaving some defeated and many with high hopes of advancing to the next round.

The highest score of the day came in the fifth set when Paul Waters rode Catty Lil Autumn to a 218 for owners Dawn and Bill Raschen. Catty Lil Autumn, by Pretty Boy Cat out of Lil Autumn Splendor by CD Olena, was bred by Charlotte Farms and purchased by the Raschens in April of this year. Lil Autumn Splendor is out of Autumn Boon and has produced four money earners, including Smooth An Boon, earner or nearly $100,000.

In the last bunch of Sunday’s competition, Wesley Galyean rode Tommy Mo for SMF Cutting Horses to a 217.5 to secure the second highest score of the day. Tommy Mo, by Metallic Cat out of Dual Peppy Kitty by Dual Pep, was bred by Isbell Charolais and is owned by SMF Cutting Horses, Aspen, Co.

Galyean, earner of nearly $3 million remains the youngest rider to ever win the NCHA Open Futurity. He did so at age 21 aboard Spots Hot in 2004. Galyean followed up in 2010 with a Reserve Championship at the NCHA Futurity aboard Some Like It Hott, a daughter of Spots Hot.

Monday brings the second to last day of Open riders competing in the first go-round of the NCHA Futurity. The second go will kick off on Wednesday and run through Friday and continue to sift through the industry most talented 3-year-old cutting horses. Millions in payouts, prizes and the coveted NCHA Futurity Champion title remains in the sights of those striving to advance to the final round on Dec. 12 in Fort Worth.

Click HERE to get your tickets now for the greatest cutting horse event of the year!

Gary Barker won the Western Bloodstock Amateur Showdown in Cowtown on Flash About. Hart Photography.

While Open competition continued in the first round of the NCHA Futurity Saturday, Amateurs took the spotlight in the Western Bloodstock NCHA Showdown in Cowtown Unlimited Amateur finals for older horses.

G

ary Barker, Madill, Okla., took top honors among the 17 horses and riders when he rode Flash About to a 220. Flash About, by Purdy Boy Flash out of Play Miss, added the $20,000 winner’s check to her career total for lifetime earnings of more than $235,000, and Barker’s over $437,000.

Barker was riding Flash About on loan from his wife, Shannon, the mare’s usual pilot. The Barkers also own Special Nu Baby, which Matt Gaines has ridden to an unbeatable lead in the 2015 Open World standings. Clickhereto see the full results of the Showdown in Cowtown.

Things are starting to heat up in the Open competition of the 2015 NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth as another slate of riders showcased their talented 3-year-olds in the Will Rogers Coliseum on Saturday.

The highest score yet blasted the leader board when Matt Miller, Poolville, Texas, rode Amandas CD to a 220 in the fourth set of the day. Amandas CD is by High Brow CD and out of the great mare, Amandas Stargun who has produced earners of more than $500,00.

Amandas CD, better known as “Ella,” was actually started as a 2-year-old in a reined cow horse program. She was purchased by Chad Bushaw out of the Shawnee Sale in January of this year and sold to the Brengards, Paragould, Ark., in March.

Amandas CD is a full sister to Sweet Lil Amanda, the dynamic grey mare, also owned by the Brengards, that Miller has earned more than $140,000 on since introducing her at the 2014 NCHA Futurity. Miller qualified Sweet Lil Amanda for the NCHA/Western Bloodstock Showdown in Cowtown Open Slot Cutting earlier in the week.

The second highest score on Saturday was delivered by last year’s NCHA Futurity Open Champion Phil Hanson who rode Smooth Satin Doll in the first set to a 218.5 for owner Lynn Leedy of Aubrey, Texas.

Smooth Satin Doll, by Smooth As A Cat out of the great Autumn Boon, was the high seller at the 2013 NCHA Futurity Western Bloodstock sales when she brought $210,000 during the Select Yearling Sale and Gala.

The third highest score seen on Saturday came from another impeccably-bred mare shown by one of NCHA’s leading ladies, Lindy Burch. Burch came well-armed to this year’s Futurity with a mare also by Smooth As A Cat out of Burch’s great mare Bet Yer Blue Boons. Burch, earner of more than $3 million, showed Bet Yer Blue Boons to $332,959, which included the 2000 NCHA World Championship.

This is the third entry sired by Smooth As A Cat that filled a top 10 spot of the go-round scores by the end of Saturday’s competition. Smooth As A Cat, by High Brow Cat out of Shes Pretty Smooth, won just over $500,000 during his show career and has gone on to produce earners of more than $13 million.

Sunday continues the first go of the Open in Fort Worth with six sets of riders vying for their chance to advance to the second round, which will start on Wed., Nov. 25.

The second day of the 2015 NCHA Futurity welcomed a new slate of contenders on Fri., Nov. 21 when 97 open riders walked to the herd in Will Rogers Coliseum.

The high score of the day was turned in by TJ Good and Tricks On You, owned by JLC Performance Horses. The two marked a 218 in the second to last set of the day. Good was the NCHA Futurity Open Reserve Champion aboard Stunned in 2013.

Earlier in the day, scores of 217.5 held the top spots. Wayne Robinson and Dos Kamikazes turned in the first one during the third set. Dos Kamikazes, owned by Leea Arnold and Dudley Caraway, is by Scootin Boon. The two are also entered in the John Deere Division of the Open.

Morgan Cromer and Armani Cat showed eighth in the fourth set on Friday to match the 217.5. Armani Cat is a Metallic Cat owned by West Coast Quarter Horses.

Saturday will bring even more open riders and their 3-year-old horses to the pen as another batch of skilled horsemen and women showcase their very best in intense efforts to make it to the next go-round of the 2015 NCHA Futurity.

Saturday is also be the opening day for the Best of the West Tradeshow where hundreds of vendors are gathered in the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall. Get a jump on your holiday shopping by shopping their unique collections of Western décor, clothing, jewelry, tack and more!